The Playwright and the Play
The Playwright and the Play
Dominique Morisseau, a native of Detroit born in 1979, is an award-winning author of a dozen plays. She has received numerous accolades including that of “Top 20 Most Produced Playwrights in America” (2016) and the MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the “Genius Grant” (2018). Skeleton Crew is the final piece in Morisseau’s three-play cycle, The Detroit Project, that is comprised of Paradise Blue, Detroit’ 67 and Skeleton Crew. The Stagecrafters produced Detroit ’67 in 2017. Skeleton Crew enjoyed its world premiere with the Atlantic Theatre Company in 2016 at the Off-Broadway Linda Gross Theater in New York City, winning the Obie Award Special Citation (shared with the director, Ruben Santiago Hudson).
A New York Times article (Dec. 30, 2015) on Morisseau stated: “… In Skeleton Crew, Ms. Morisseau [has] immersed herself in the music of the factories and the choreography of the assembly line. Her plays are both angry and empathetic, forthright about the faults of the characters they describe while ready to honor their desire, ambition and essential decency. …”. The play has since been produced widely throughout the country at many regional playhouses. Critics’ responses are telling: “… A taut and [vibrant …] drama with vivid characters, keen-eared dialogue, and inside insights into this [no-holds barred] working class world. …” (New York Daily News); “… the American worker, cranky, caring, overburdened and endangered, is given [her/his] 21 st Century dramatic due.” (www.latimes.com).
CONNIE NORWOOD (Director) has a long association with the South Camden Theater Company where she has directed Suddenly Last Summer, Radio Golf, Kingdom of the Earth, King Hedley II, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, and The Mountain Top. Connie also directed No Exit with the Hothouse Theater Company and The Dutchman for Chrysalis Staging Productions. Connie has added two new talents to her life in theater: writing and producing. She produced and directed Beyond Closed Doors as a part of the 2008 Philly Fringe and co-wrote In Due Season, a gospel musical, performed in 2006 at the Prince Music Theater. Connie has directed dramas and comedies including According to Plan and the one-man show Looking Over the President's Shoulders with Brian Anthony Wilson, both at Hedgerow Theater. In addition, she also directed several productions by Philadelphia’s renowned Rev. Johnny Thompson, including Anointed to Sing the Gospel, Grand Ole Night, Master, I Want to Live which toured Europe for four years. Connie served as Guest Artist of Temple University Main Stage Productions (1998-2001). She was Associate Artistic Director of the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center (1993–2001) where she worked as an actor and director.
Connie would like to thank the VP of Production and members of The Stagecrafters for bringing her on board to direct Skeleton Crew.
PATRICK MARTIN returns as an Assistant Director/Stage Manager for this production. Directing credits at The Stagecrafters include Lobby Hero, Book of Days, Red Herring, Plaza Suite (Visitor from Hollywood) and Violet Hour. When not backstage, Patrick can be seen on stage. Acting credits at our theater: Of Mice and Men (Carlson), All My Sons (Chris Keller), Arsenic and Old Lace (Teddy Brewster), Superior Donuts (Kevin). Most recently he appeared in California Suite (Visitor from Philadelphia) (Marvin) at the Narberth Community Theater . Other activities at The Stagecrafters include Technical Director and Sound Designer for various productions. Patrick holds a B.A. degree in Theater from Temple University.